A Moscow court has placed entrepreneur Ilya Traber, whom Russian media describe as a person from Vladimir Putin's inner circle, under arrest. The investigation accuses him of organizing the contract killing of deputy and businessman Alexander Petrov, committed in 2020.
A court in Moscow has chosen a two-month arrest as a preventive measure for entrepreneur Ilya Traber, accused of organizing a contract killing and illegal arms trafficking, reports LETA.
The decision was announced by the press service of the Moscow City Court.
The investigation links Traber to the murder of businessman and municipal deputy of Vyborg Alexander Petrov, who was shot dead in October 2020 near his home in the Leningrad region. According to the investigation, the crime was premeditated and carried out by a group of individuals using sniper weapons.
Along with Traber, former professional boxer Alisultan Nadirbegov has also been arrested. He faces similar charges. Nadirbegov was previously among the leading boxers according to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and was conditionally convicted in 2017 for a shooting incident at a woodworking enterprise.
According to the publication Kommersant, FSB officers transported both defendants from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Prior to this, searches were conducted at addresses associated with Traber. The main version of the investigation suggests that the motive for the crime may be related to the business interests of the deceased.
Alexander Petrov was considered one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Vyborg. He owned stakes in dozens of companies operating in construction, real estate, hospitality, and port infrastructure.
In business circles, Petrov was often referred to as the 'master of Vyborg.'
The figure of Traber himself adds particular resonance to the case. The entrepreneur began his business activities in the late Soviet period and gained significant influence in the port business of St. Petersburg during the 1990s. Over the years, he has been linked to the management of the St. Petersburg oil terminal and other large infrastructure assets.
Russian and international media have repeatedly referred to Traber as a person from Vladimir Putin's inner circle.
In particular, the TV channel Dozhd previously characterized him as 'the only living criminal authority whom Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged as an acquaintance.'
At this point, the allegations are only charges. The guilt of Traber and Nadirbegov has not yet been proven in court, and the investigation is ongoing.
If the charges are confirmed, the case could become one of the most high-profile criminal trials in recent years, involving representatives of Russian big business and individuals whom the media associate with the Kremlin's inner circle.
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